Spray assembly and replaceable detergent container for dishwasher

Abstract

A spray assembly for a dishwasher of the kind wherein utensils are disposed inside a dishwashing chamber and a generally L-shaped spray assembly is rotated to and fro so that a horizontal leg thereof sweeps across a lower surface of the dishwashing chamber and a vertical leg of the spray assembly sweeps across a side wall of the dishwashing chamber. The spray assembly has channels for conveying detergent and hot water and further has multiple nozzles disposed along the horizontal and vertical legs for directing detergent and hot water on to the utensils inside the dishwashing chamber from multiple different directions as the spray assembly rotates. A fluid inlet coupler at an end of the spray assembly is adapted for coupling to a rotatable hub having duct connectors projecting downwardly substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the hub and fluidly coupled to respective channels of the spray assembly.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to table-top dishwashing machines for washing a small number of dishes, e.g. glasses, intended to be used in offices, or the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,380 discloses a dishwashing machine for washing dishes with a very rapid washing cycle in which water and detergent are sprayed through different spraying nozzles in different operational stages within the dishwashing cycle. Utensils to be washed are placed on a forward semi-circular portion of a carousel tray, which rotates through 180° so as to bring the utensils into a dishwashing chamber where heated water and detergent are sprayed sequentially from multiple directions. This is achieved using a spray assembly in the form of a rotatable L-shaped arm comprising a horizontal leg below the tray and a vertical leg extending above the upper faces of the dishes. The horizontal leg supports nozzles for spraying liquid upwards onto the lower face of t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention aims to improve the spray assembly and detergent container of a dishwasher. The invention solves the problems of previous dishwashers, such as the inconvenience of replacing detergent containers and the lack of efficient spray coverage. The solution is a spray assembly and replaceable detergent bottle that address these issues.

Problems solved by technology

This increases the complexity of the assembly since more parts are required, thereby increasing assembly time and cost.

The second drawback is that flexible ducts are push-fitted on to the duct connectors, which as seen in FIG. 1 are fixed on a lower surface of the horizontal leg remote from the axis of rotation 19.

As a result, rotation of the spray assembly subjects the ducts to mechanical forces along the axis of the joints and this has been found to induce disconnection from the duct connectors, which must withstand high pressure liquid flow through the joints.

This results in leaks and wastage of both water and detergent.

Another albeit lesser drawback of the dishwasher described in the two cited patents concerns the manner in which detergent is replenished.

The resulting mechanism and the need for two pumps increase the complexity, bulk and cost of the dishwasher.

Images